Fists of Flame :: Chapter Background

[Scorpion Master]

History

Created out of the need for a resurgent need for a Chapter given the dire portents facing the Imperium after the rapid expansion of the Eye of Terror. Fearing that the surrounding regions would come under attack, the Imperium put in place a plan of action to raise several new Chapters. Amongst those created were the Fists of Flame.

Tasked with security of a cluster of Shrine worlds neighbouring the Eye, as well the areas surrounding them, the Fists of Flame quickly became synonymous with rapid attack, falling upon their enemies from drop pod and Thunderhawk attack craft.

Despite how the outside world perceived them, they were secretive, appearing in times of need and then disappearing into the void before the dust settles; leaving only defeated enemies in their wake and with their seclusion came an even greater interest in these knights who came to defeat the enemies of Man.

Indeed, it was their solitary nature as a questing Chapter, born upon a fleet of powerful Astartes vessels that would lead to their eventual loss of their home world, as the Chapter maintained little or no contact with the worlds under their protection, and relying upon tiny monitoring stations, and if a world prove strategically important, a small garrison of Pyschoris Secondarius. These Psychoris Secondarius were psychically linked to the Chapter’s pool of Librarians. Should a world with a garrison of Psychoris Secondarius come under attack, the Chapter’s Librarians would be amongst the first to feel the psychic emanations long enough before an attack for the Fists of Flame to assess the threat and react if necessary.

Fewer still, worlds which were deemed important of the highest order to warrant a full time Astartes presence observed no such measures, but an Astartes from the Chapter’s fleet presence were seen by those worlds, but even this was but a fraction of what the Imperium deemed necessary to safeguard a world. However, in practice, the Fists of Flame could react within minutes, bringing in Astartes vessels from the surrounding sub-sectors within hours, and the presence of one of the Fists of Flame Battle Barges could be felt inside a full standard day.

The First War for Tarsiss III

The Fists of Flame have always looked to the world of Tarsiss III was their home world, the hub of their small corner of the galaxy, and the place from the majority of their recruits were taken to be trained to become full battle brothers.

Tarsiss III was a verdant world, with many mountainous regions and rolling fields of tendered gardens and white-washed marble temples girdling the world and a thriving star port that’s principal goal was to ferry Imperial pilgrims to and from orbit, allowing the Imperial citizenry to partake in the worship of the Immortal Emperor, and as all worlds with such a religious calling, it was the home of many hundred Adepta Sororitas Missions and also the sole world upon which the Order of the Sacred Heart (later to be renamed the Order of the Raped Virgin) was located.

The events leading up to the First War for Tarsiss III are regarded as a stain upon the honour of the Fists of Flame, an event which would certainly mar their existence. It was actions of one by the name of Epistolary Maximus Adual, a Librarian within the Chapter that would allow the First War to happen.

Confined to a life of eternal servitude with a false hope of ever seeing the ancient knowledge sealed with the Librarium of the Chapter, Epistolary Adual sealed a pact with the Chaos God Tzeentch. As a test of Adual’s faith, the Changer of Ways commanded him to accompany a traitorous Sister of Battle, and aide in her escape. In this task, he was successful and in doing so, he had also made himself a traitor to the Chapter and only death was his only other option. Taking life over death, Adual also set a course into the Warp alongside the Sororitas named Gemiel.

The First War began some fourteen years later in 554.M37, after Gemiel had managed to secure for herself an army of Emperor’s Children, using a mixture of subtle manipulation and ruthless cunning to get them to aid her in the attack of her former home world.

When the attack happened, orbital fire rained down as the Emperor’s Children vessels settled into orbit, and then came the mass onslaught of drop pods, and Terminator teleport attacks.

Amongst the first targets hit were the numerous Sororitas Fortress Convents alongside the numerous Pyschoris Secondarius outposts stationed across the world’s surface. With such a decisive stroke, they had cut the world off from support by the Fists of Flame, and had effectively countered the only major martial force on the world by keeping them cornered inside their armoured Convents.

The fiercest of the fighting was not in the city streets, but was surrounding the Fortressium Majoris for the Order of the Raped Virgin. Despite the void shields failing in the first day of the attack, it was not until the appearance of the traitor Gemiel that the fighting took on a more dire aspect. For six days, the fighting around the Fortressium Majoris was bloody for both sides for the Emperor’s Children could not breach the thick armoured walls and Gemiel was unwilling to leave the world without seeing her former Convent raised to the ground.

One the sixth day, Gemiel committed her most seasoned and deadly warriors to the attack. Spearheading the assault herself alongside a number of Vindicator siege tanks, she ordered the commencement of the bombardment. For forty minutes, the Vindicators fired, each shell falling upon the impact creator of the last until a breach was blown open in the south-side of the Fortressium. Gemiel was the first through the newly opened breach.

Upon entering the sacred Fortressium, Gemiel activated her teleport homer and within seconds, twenty deadly veterans wearing highly feared suits of Terminator armour appeared beside the traitor Sororitas.

Death came quickly to the Sororitas as they were gunned down by the Terminators or cleaved in two by cackling power fists. Around every turn, the Sororitas held out to the last, until eventually Gemiel came upon the sacred inner-chamber housing the Order’s most precious relics.

Standing resolute and bold within the centre was but a small squad of Celestians and with them stood the Canoness Othillia. With only a handful of Terminators left, Gemiel pressed the attack.

With neither side willing to give ground nor back down and concede defeat, the fighting took on a dire turn for the worst. With a sweep of Gemiel’s blackened sword, she beheaded her opponent, Canoness Othillia.

Even before Gemiel could consolidate her position, Alica was there. As the two sisters faced off against each other, the fighting seemed to stop around them; their subordinates watched the battle of the two siblings. If any battle could decide the fate of the world, this was the one.

Gemiel dodged and parried with a grace not befitting an armoured Sororitas, whist Alica’s sheer force of will allowed her hand to move in ways which it would not have done otherwise. As the two sisters tore at each other, their blades took on a life of their own as the two siblings stared blankly at each other, hate evident in every facet of their movements.

Eventually, Alica gained the upper hand. With a clean blow, she had forced the blade from Gemiel’s hand. With her sister and now mortal foe now weapon-less, something stayed her hand. Whether it was sisterly love, the look of redemption upon Gemiel’s face or something else, no one will ever know.

Outside the Convent, silver drop pods had already begun to hit the ground. Within the space of minutes, the attack of the Emperor’s Child had been halted in it’s tracks, and unwilling to be stuck on Tarsiss III indefinitely, Gemiel and her forces was forced to making a fighting withdraw to their Thunderhawks.

The First War for Tarsiss III had been won and with it, many hard earned lessons had been learned. Over the next few years, the Fists of Flame would no longer rely solely upon the Pyschoris Secondarius to warn of attack upon Tarsiss III. A decree was eventually passed, ushered on by Chief Librarian Mars Aran that a Psychoris Primarius be installed permanently upon Tarsiss III. Whereas the Psychoris Secondarius was nothing more then a small outpost containing a few augmented psykers, the Pyschoris Primarius was a small garrison of containing four full Squads of Astartes backed up by two Brother-Librarians.

The Second War for Tarsiss III

The opening moves of the Second War are mysterious at best and unclear at worst. Many believe that it was a fleet of Chaos vessels, many believing them to be Khorne and Nurgle in allegiance. The few records that do exist hint that an Imperial Navy battle group was destroyed as they engaged the incoming traitor fleet and that they had uncontested control of the system within the first day of the attack.

Fearing the worst, those that had the power and the wealth fled the world before the Chaos fleet finally closed in around the world. But for some unknown reason, it is hinted that the Khorne forces disengaged and moved off, setting a course through the Ether, leaving the Nurgle vessels in place around Tarsiss III.

Damius, acutely aware of the impending Astartes attack had prepared extensively for it, and even before he had sent troops down onto the world below, he fired his first salvo of disease ridden torpedoes into the atmosphere. Within the first few hours of the virus bombardment, Imperial citizens begun to change into shambling, disease-carrying plague zombies.

When Damius finally made planet fall at the head of his army, he was greeted by a large war band of plague zombies ready to do his bidding. At his command, he had massive siege works constructed, and he had placed sentries watching the many routes down from the mountains.

When the Fists of Flame arrived days later, it was not a small cluster of Astartes vessels, but rather the entire Chapter had been assembled in defence of their home world and together, they neared a world that had changed greatly. They found only roving bands of plague zombies, and with no trace of the Traitor Legions, they established a foothold position high in the mountains, away from the vile plagues which resided further down in the atmosphere. When the majority of the Fists of Flame had deployed, Damius struck.

At Damius’ command, a small army of Plague Marines made its presence felt, goading the Fists of Flame out from their mountain reaches. Instead, the Fists of Flame surrounded the only real visible threat via a drop pod assault which landed behind.

With his foe now committed, Damius committed his force more forcefully, quickly surrounding the newly arrived loyalist Space Marines. As they were fought to the last against the Plague Marines, the Chapter surged down from the mountains to aid their Battle Brothers.

Now that Damius had the Fists of Flame where he wanted them, the last stroke was applied. Virus torpedoes hit home high in the peaks of the mountains, spreading plague spores amongst the loyalist forces as they descended to engage the Nurgle forces.

As the fighting slowed to a near stand-still, days passed without neither side willing to retreat in the face of the enemy and it was not until the effects of the virus Damius had unleashed upon world begun to take effect that the Fists of Flame realised their folly.

Over half the Chapter had been affected by the virus which had slowly turned them into vile Plague Marines. However, before it could affect the rest of the Chapter, a stranger and two Adepta Sororitas came before the Chapter Master Hueran Tigerian.

What transpired between the stranger, the Sororitas and Hueran would remain a secret until Hueran’s dying day, but its effect was clear. At the Chapter Master’s command, the untainted and those deemed clean enough to be saved were to fight a tactical withdrawal back to their Thunderhawks.

With those who could be saved now in orbit, including the majority of the Sisters of Battle from the Order of the Raped Virgin who had remained secured behind the walls of the Fortressium Majoris, the last rites of a condemned world were enacted upon Tarsiss III.

In a blinding light the surface of Tarsiss III was scoured clean of all life and with it, Tarsiss III was no more.

The Time of Mars Aran

When the Tyranids attacked the world of Ghemlin, it was the Fists of Flame who was first to answer the call. Arriving too late to help the beleaguered world as it was slowly devoured by one of the Tyranid splinter fleets, they acted anyway, fighting their way through the organic minefields and swarms of Tyranid ships.

The first waves of Astartes hit the ground and were immediately plunged into vicious war against the foul alien beasts. Each warrior who died gave the Imperial citizens precious minutes to get clear of the dying world as their bulk transport ferried humans into orbit.

Seeing a chance to slow the Tyranid progress, Heuran Tigerian himself led the fabled Hammer of Tarsiss down onto the surface. As the five Terminators materialised deep inside a Tyranid hive nest, they were engaged by Tyranid warrior organisms. Pushing them back with roaring assault cannon, thunderous storm bolter volleys and turning waves of burning flamer fuel, the Tyranids were pushed back long enough for them to destroy their target with cackling power fists. As the Hive Nexus faltered and sending the Tyranids into disarray for scant minutes, the Hammer of Tarsiss prepared to leave. Activating their personal teleport homers, the Scourge of the Damned locked onto their signal. Before it activate the ancient teleporter banks, something interrupted the signal with its vile psychic presence.

As the Hive Mind restored contact with the minor beasts across the planet, the Hammer fought for their survival as scything waves of Gaunts and Genestealers assailed them from every direction.

It was not until the monstrous form of a Hive Tyrant made its presence felt that Tigerian knew what had blocked the teleporter signal. With a roar, the Chapter Master assailed the Tyrant with his psychic might, his suit of revered Terminator armour burning brighter then a newborn sun under the Chapter Master’s psychic might.

Surging forwards toward his foe, Tigerian met the Tyrant in vicious close combat. Force axe flashed against diamond hard chitin, and sharp talons bit into ceramite.

When the dust settled, the Tyrant had been killed, crushed beneath Tigerian’s might, but it had come at a cost. Tigerian lay there, near death. Forming a wall of death around the dying Chapter Master, the remaining survivors of the Hammer of Tarsiss were teleported out of the cavern.

Despite the best administrations of the Chapter’s best Apothecaries, the Chapter Master was rendered immobile, but alive. With his career as Chapter Master effectively over, Tigerian was interred within the armoured sarcophagus of a Venerable Dreadnought, within which he continues to fight from within to this day.

In his place as Chapter Master, in accordance with ancient Fists of Flame tradition, and Tigerian’s wishes, Mars Aran, then the Chapter’s Chief Librarian was given the rank of Chapter Master.

With the memory of the Second War for Tarsiss III still fresh in his mind, Mars Aran’s first order as Chapter Master, was for the Chapter to repaint their armour from silver to white, in honour of the fallen Fists of Flame who died in the war which cost the Chapter its home world.

In addition, he begins to oversee the overall of the Chapter’s fighting doctrine. No longer would its Battle Brothers fight with holy bolter, but with bolt pistol and deadly chainsword, ensuring that its Battle Brothers would need to get to grips with the enemy as quickly as possible, ensuring the failures of the Second War could never happen again in the way it did.

Organisation and Chapter Information
Unlike many Astartes Chapters, the Fists of Flame are not organised around the Company structure, and instead are organised around a core of “Masters.” These Masters are the Chapter’s most able warriors, skilled tacticians, and respected brethren.

When called to War, the Fists of Flame send one or more of their Masters, bringing with them only the warriors and support they will foresee ably need for the task or campaign. Thusly, the Fists of Flame may send as few as five Space Marines, or upwards of five hundred Fists of Flame warriors in the most dire of circumstances, and it is not uncommon for several Masters to be drawn to a conflict should a foe prove too much of a threat.

Thusly, a Fists of Flame army can vary widely from campaign to campaign, or from battle to battle, even if the same Master is present, as the Master will only use the elements he as available that he deems necessary to succeed, and it is common for Battle Brothers to serve under many different Masters in any given Campaign, and only the individual squads are set.

The rank of Master itself is not only open to the Chapter’s Battle Brothers, but also to other ranks of office as well, and often the Chapter’s many Librarians, Chaplains and even Apothecaries can become a Master within the Chapter. Furthermore, it is also open to external influences as well, although they are few and far between, with the most notable example being Inquisitor-Lord Holt of the Ordo Hereticus.

In addition, the Fists of Flame also have another rank within their command structure, that of the Paladin. The Paladins act as messengers and personal advisors to each of the Masters, with each Master choosing his own Paladin to act on his behalf. These have auxiliary various tasks to perform, such as chronicling the deeds, campaigns and actions of their Master, and should one of the Master’s have a dispute with another Master, it is usually the Paladins who engage in ritualistic, non-lethal combat who decides the victor. This isn’t always the case, as in some care cases, the Masters themselves can be forced to fight in the ritualistic combat should honour demand it.

In addition, the Fists of Flame also do not have a dedicated 1st Company, as their suits of Terminator armour are reserved for those of an esteemed rank, such as Master, Chaplain, Librarian, their Honour Guards and to a few select squads, who have earned that right through feats of extreme courage.

Current Strength

The Fists of Flame, by some estimates numbers around nine hundred Space Marines and some sources estimate to be much lower. The actual figure is only known to the Fists of Flame themselves.

Beliefs/Geneseed

To the Fists of Flame, belief in the Emperor is all encompassing, infiltrating every part of their lives, and they hold a special feast once each year in honour of the master of Mankind. It is often said that they offer up the bodies of the slain to Him as an act of worship, although these rumours have never been proven despite strict Inquisitorial investigations into this potentially morbid practice. However, what has been proven is that they're Chaplains are exceptionally gifted orators with the ability to cast aside the doubts of their Battle Brothers with well chosen and stirring words. One example of this was during the Quiernan Wars (900.M36) when Chaplain Krypion stirred a populace of Imperial citizens into a fanatical mob of zealots during the final days of that campaign.

Although there is one facet of their existence which many hold to be self evident. Since the Second War for Tarsiss III (798.M38) they have held a strong believe in genetic purity, and throughout the years since, they have screened out anything deemed heretical to their overly strict Apothecarium practices. As such any trace as to the original of their gene seed has been virtually removed, although there have been rumours that it was originally taken from the gene seed of the Salamander Legion.

It is therefore entirely possible that they venerate Vulkan as their founding Primarch, although such evidence doesn't exist as to preclude this as a certainty.

Appearance

When they were first created, the Fists of Flame wore silver armour, with flame motives painted over their silver armour on their shoulder pads and lower leg greaves, but since the Second War for Tarsiss III, they had their silver armour repainted a brilliant white in honour of the fallen and to signify that they have come through that terrible event purer of spirit and of body.

Their fighting vehicles are also painted in the same scheme of colours that the Astartes do, and many of which feature the striking flame motive which adorns ever aspect of the Fists of Flame life.

Another facet which marks them apart from Codex Chapters is that the only markings a Fists of Flame Battle Brother displays are they’re squad type and whether they have received the honour privilege to wear suits of tactical dreadnought armour. This is denoted by their knee pads only, with their left knee dedicated to their squad type and the right to their status within the Chapter.

Characters

Librarian


Master


Caplain

*****

Command Squad

Comand Squad Champion


Command Squad Veteran Sergeant


Command Squad Trooper

*****

Assault Squad

Assault Squad Veteran Sergeant


Assault Squad Trooper

*****

Tactical Squad

Tactical Squad Veteran Sergeant


Tactical Squad Trooper

*****

Devastator Squad

Devastator Squad Veteran Sergeant


Devastator Squad Trooper

[Imperial Commander Gent]

Wow man, it looks like you have put a lot of time in this! I like everything I see very much! Nice job!

[Scorpion Master]

Thanks. And it still isn't even finished . *begins chanting to myself quitely* Must write more about the Hammer of Tarsiss.... Must write... Write now....

[Sir James Bloodfang]

That is awesome man. Well done.

Which painter did you use?

[Scorpion Master]

The B&C one, as at the time I wasn't aware another existed (apart from the one on GW's site which isn't worth using IMO).

[Sir James Bloodfang]

The B&C one, as at the time I wasn't aware another existed (apart from the one on GW's site which isn't worth using IMO).

Ah right, but how did you do the flames?

[Rellik]

looking good man!

[Ides]

heh, for a minute there I was thinking of the fiery loins...I mean Lions, from Turnsignals...

[Scorpion Master]

Originally Posted by Sir James Bloodfang

Ah right, but how did you do the flames?

I did the basic colour scheme in the painter, and then photo-shopped in the flames

And thanks for all the encouragement.

[Imperial Commander Gent]

They look great man! It is very original! I also admire the amount of time you are putting into this!

[Sir James Bloodfang]

I did the basic colour scheme in the painter, and then photo-shopped in the flames

And thanks for all the encouragement.

Thanks man.

Keep up the good work.